THE RECORD May-June 2015

Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel City Square, Leeds

A PLACE OF SPIRITUAL SANCTUARY FOR ALL

Liberation: Inspiration: Compassion

Our ServicesSundays: morning Worship Service 10:45

evening Sacred Contemplation 6:00Wednesdays: midday Meditation 1:15Thursdays: evening Sacred Contemplation 6:15

First Sunday of the month: Bring and Share Lunch in the Priestley Hall

ContactsMinister Revd. Jo James 0113 243 3845 email jojames.email@gmail.com tweet @jojames_

Facilities Manager/Lettings: Malcolm Clarke Chapel 0113 243 3845

Chairman of the Congregation Alan Hawkins: alan.c.hawkins@btinternet.com

Director of Music Anthony Norcliffe : anthony.norcliffe1@homecall.co.uk

The Record Editor Email millhillrecord@gmail.com @millhillchapel

charity number: 1081978

One of the oldest and most distinguished of the denominations to arise from the protestant

reformation Unitarianism is an open theological tradition which emphasises freedom of

conscience, affirms the inherent worth of all humans and acknowledges the validity of all

religious approaches to the Divine.

From Our MinisterIts wonderful to be able to post positive news again; not only are we regularly seeing better attendance figures across all our services but we've been able to welcome new members into membership and other newcomers are considering this step. There is still a great potential for Mill Hill Chapel. We are promoting further new growth by creating a promotional video to show via our website, twitter and Facebook page, we are using adverts in local press and looking to develop stories to gain a higher profile, we are engaging in new and exciting partnerships, initiating new events and new approaches to worship and spirituality - maybe you have further ideas? We need to grow because we know we have something to offer our community and we are focusing on how to nourish what we offer by asking you to participate in a short congregational survey (included with this newsletter) - it should be fun to fill in and will be really useful as we prepare a strategy for numerical growth and spiritual depth.

We must change to adapt and develop, unlocking our great wealth of potential requires commitment, courage and openness. Change requires largeness of spirit and gentleness of heart. It requires flexibility and it does, inevitably, entail some risk. At least, the change which leads to growth does.

There is another option though:

We could dig in our heels and stubbornly resist change by every channel open to us - and things might at first appear to remain the same. It would be an illusion though because we would still be changing, its just that it would be a negative change; services would remain fixed as fossils, but fewer and fewer people would attend them, everything would appear the same, but no newcomers would stay, and none would be invited to join.

This is still change, its just that this kind of change is better known by another name; death. We would wither and die.

Then the careful stewardship of our resources would have been for nothing.

continues over

Yorkshire Union NewsWorship Studies Training for LAY WORSHIP LEADERSFour Saturdays in Summer: 30 May, 13 June, 27 June, 11 July at Cross Street Unitarian Chapel Manchester - ask Jo for further information.

Welcome to Ralph Catts, the new Lay Pastor at Hull Unitarians as of the 25th February this year. We wish him great success in his new ministry.

Towards a dementia friendly church is a free workshop, on Tuesday, 2nd June at York Chapel.

Wakefield sadly reports that the oldest member of the congregation, Phyllis Lockwood, has died aged 106. She had been a Wakefield Unitarian for 100 years.

The congregation at Pepperhill would particularly welcome visitors to their Anniversary Service on June 7th, and on the 16th July the Reverend Cliff Reed visits the congregation. The Yorkshire Day Service is on 2nd August celebrating the YUU bicentenary.

Other News

We are pleased to announce that the Chapel is the first place of worship to register to perform same-sex marriages. So if you know a couple who want to marry in a our lovely sanctuary please speak to Jo. We are ready to help you proclaim your love and commitment in our community.

We would join the great list of closed Unitarian Churches and our resources would be disbursed to the General Assembly to invest as it saw fit. Like the idea? No, neither do I.I want to point out two simple but fundamental things:

The future will not look or feel like the past. Leadership creates change.

Those who now meet in this historic chapel of dissent and exploration have the power in their own hands to be the change they want to see. Lets use that power imaginatively, courageously, expansively and generously. Jo

Editor's NoteIn this issue of The Record we have included material that

will be ongoing. Each issue will have readings to help with spiritual reflection, a prayer and a poem. Also, we are starting a new column tentatively titled, Life Outside the Chapel. We welcome your suggestions for activities that would provide a platform to socialise and enrich the life of the congregation between worship services. Also, it is difficult to plan events to publicise in The Record as much as two months in advance. So I thought a monthly Record might be more informative. It would be shorter but would enable me to announce the most current events.

This months cover art is a window of from our very own Chapel. This lovely window was created by the important British design innovator, William Morris. Mary Magdalene is depicted on the east side of the building at the back of the sanctuary. Unfortunately access is hindered by the staircase. The idea to focus on windows is taken from a sermon by Celia Midgley. She reminded us to not take for granted the beauty of our of places of worship and especially our windows. So if you have a favourite Chapel window let me know. Help make The Record beautiful as well as informative.Rosemary

PrayerThe Sacred Encounter

Timeless spiritwe know you are best when we stop trying to find you and find you most easily when we stop searching for you. Lead us to the knowledge that you are to be found amongst us. That we must love you in ourselves, in our neighbour, and in the one we think is our enemy.

Teach us the way of your spirit; the way of collaboration, of cooperation, and forgiveness. Remind us of the old ways of community, and the new language of open source. Teach us to give freely and share openly; let us be forgetful of self and mindful of the other.

Let us recognise the sacred wherever we encounter it, let us be aware of the divine present all around us; and let us ensure that we make manifest in our thoughts, words and deeds, the best and the highest of which we are capable.

Amen.

This prayer and other uplifting Unitarian reflections can be found in Roots and Wings, a brief history of the Yorkshire Unitarian Union with contemporary writings. Published to celebrate the YUU bicentenary this year. Copies if the book can be purchased for 3.00

Chapel Flowers May3rd Flower Fund10th In memory of Violet & Sydney Travis and

Hunslet Memorial Flowers are in memory of Selina & Walter Mann

17th Flower Fund24th In memory of Esm & John Lucas31th Flower FundJune7th Flower Fund14th In memory of Alice & James Saville

Hunslet Memorial Flowers are In memory of Alice & James Saville21st Flower Fund28th Flower FundIf anyone would like to make a donation to provide flowers in memory of a loved one, to celebrate anniversaries or remember a birthday, then please contact Joan Perry or Susan Coggan (Flower Secretary). Some dates are available.NB: If you already have a subscription for flowers please check that this is kept up to date - Flower secretary

Music at Mill HillAnthems during May

3rd The Lord is my shepherd Howard Goodall10th View me, Lord Richard Lloyd17th Above all praise and majesty Felix Mendelssohn24th (Whit Sunday): If ye love me keep my commandments Thomas Tallis31st Blessed angel spririts Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky Anthems during June

7th Day by day Martin How14th Ubi caritas Maurice Durufle21st Vox ultima crucis William H. Harris28th Lord, for Thy tender mercys sake John Hilton

New WebsiteHave you seen our new attractive and informative website? Many thanks go to Xina Gooding Broderick who created the redesign. Go to our new address:

www.millhillchapel.orgThere you can link to our Twitter feeds and Facebook group and find a link to the ministers web pages including texts of sermons and more.

Guest Worship Leaders

31 May Revd. Bill Darlison14 June Revd Joy Croft

Outside the Chapel

We are looking for suggestions for small group activities. How can we use our building and communications to bring people together for social and cultural activities?

We are already in collaboration with the Vegan Interfaith Alliance hosting a food sharing evening after the service on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7.00 pm in the Priestley Hall. Anyone is welcome to attend, either to help out with cooking, cleaning or washing up or simply to share food and fellowship.

A walking group has been suggested, perhaps with Bolton Abbey as a first destination - or maybe somewhere accessible by train? Starting in June: a new spiritual reading group - an opportunity to explore and deepen faith; on the first Sunday in June we will suggest the material to read and then on the last Tuesday of the month well meet together to discuss it.

My Winters PastAs spring the winter does succeed,

And leaves the naked trees do dress,

The earth all black is clothed in green;

At sunshine each their joy express.

My suns returned with healing wings.

My soul and body do rejoice;

My heart exults and praises sings

To You who heard my wailing voice.

My winters past, my storms are gone,

And former clouds now seem all fled;

But, if they must eclipse again,

Ill run where I was amply fed.

I have a shelter from the storm,

A shadow from the fainting heat;

I have access unto Your throne

You who are God so wondrous great.

Anne Bradstreet - May 13, 1657

Organ Recitals Now notching up 21 years, Mill Hills 2015 Grand Series of

Lunchtime Organ Concerts commences on Tuesday, May 12th, at 1pm, when our good friend, Dr. Simon Lindley launches this years weekly feasts of music. As well as recitals by our own Director of Music, ANTHONY NORCLIFFE, May and June feature, also, performances by JONATHAN EYRE, the eminent Assistant Director of Music of Bradford Cathedral, on May 27th and the nationally-famed ROBERT SHARPE, Organist of York Minster, on June 9th. ALAN HORSEY, an eminent musician from Halifax, plays for us on June 23rd and the distinguished CHARLES EDMONDSON, formerly Music Advisor to East Yorks. Education Authority, comes to us on June 30th. Robert, Alan and Charles have all played for us on former occasions and, very much, we look forward to welcoming them once again. Jonathan, incidentally, comes to us for his first visit.

We shall, of course, be delighted for your attendance at these increasingly popular annual events, admission to which is free,with a retiring collection taken. The concerts continue throughout July ANTHONY NORCLIFFE on the 7th. JEFFREY MAKINSON of Lincoln Minster will be playing on the 14th. A week later, on the 21st, ELIN REES from Bury Parish Church will perform. The concluding concert on 28 July will be played by our very own ANTHONY NORCLIFFE. These performances are thoroughly worthwhile experiences of superb music played by some of Englands most distinguished organists. We do hope you'll come and join us!

Mailing List

To receive The Record via email or post please give your address to Rosemary Frances. You can also email to MillHillRecord@gmail.com. If you are uncertain who is Rosemary see page 5. To save resources and lower costs, would you kindly sign-up for the email edition. Thanks.

My working life was a dismal slug through a series of positions that did nothing to enrich my soul. Fortunately and none too soon, I became an assistant to my minister at All Souls. I also managed the Unitarian Universalist UN Office. In 1999, I was ready to enter seminary. Theology is one of my passions. The writings of the Unitarian theologian Charles Hartshorne provided me with a framework to find the meaning I sought. I spent some time as a Chaplain Candidate in the US Air Force and also ministered at an nonprofit helping people with HIV. But my studies were sidetracked by illnesses. It took 5 additional years to finish seminary after I developed a painful neurological disorde

My condition has slowed me down but not stopped me. Moving to Leeds in 2011, opened me to new perspectives and a different culture.The chapel is a great support for me as I adjust to UK culture. Beside lay preaching, I volunteer as the Referrals Administrator for Inkwell, Minds art centre in Chapel Allerton. I have made good friends and enjoy my less frantic life in Leeds. Nonetheless, NYC will always be in my heart. It is where I found Unitarianism and grew to know myself. Through our enlightened, expanding faith, no matter where I live, I have peace and love in a very-full-of-wonder life.

We would like to get to know you! To contribute your story to the Introducing Ourselves column speak to Rosemary or email: millhillrecord@gmail.com

Dont forget that the first Sunday of every month is a bring and share lunch in the Priestley Hall after the service- it is an opportunity to get to know each other better. There is always plenty, so come along even if you have nothing to share.

Introducing Ourselves: We Share Our Biographies Rosemary Frances Story

I wonder as I wander, the great American poet Langston Hughes wrote. That reflection also applies to me. I have physically moved many times in my life. The most important wandering I have done however is within myself.

I spent my childhood in foster care due to my parents alcoholism. As a ward of the state I lived in more than 25 placements in 15 years. Back then the government would not terminate parental rights and my mother would not let me be adopted. I mention this situation not to pull on heartstrings but as a simple fact. Of course, it was not easy and left me with much psychological harm. At age 43 however, I feel very comfortable with myself and my circumstances.

I was a child in the Mid-West. Saint Louis is my place of birth. But I always felt that it didnt suit me. As a 17-year-old I bought a one-way ticket to New York City. I felt I belonged to NYC as soon as arrived. I love the city and its people. Throngs of diversity and creativity. In this place of everlasting change I was reborn as a vegetarian Atheist as well as a New Yorker. In 1994, I was awarded a BA from City University of NY. I did not yet settle down. Unitarianism entered my life after I decided I was not very good at being an Atheist. There must be something more than just chaos driving life, I thought. I wanted to know meaning and hope. Because this denomination allows me spiritual wandering and wondering, I have stayed and deepened my religious life.